PSL final won’t be held anywhere else other than Karachi: Sethi assures

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board chairperson Najam Sethi on Monday declared that the final match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) will not be held anywhere else other than Karachi.

The third edition of Pakistan Super League is ongoing in United Arab Emirates, with two of its playoff matches are scheduled for Lahore and the final match announced for Karachi.

The PCB chairperson was on a promised visit to the Karachi National Stadium to review the renovations undertaken there.

Responding to media men queries concerning venue for the final, the PCB chief forbade of repetitive questions regarding the final of the PSL-3, adding that the final if not in Karachi, will not be held anywhere else.

During a press conference later that day, he spoke of the renovations that have been embarked at urgent pace. He appreciated that the ground overcame the renovation within a span of four months which generally would required two years.

He said that the International Security Company has forwarded a report to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that all PSL franchisers are ready to come to Pakistan this year.

Responding to concerns about the tickets, he said the management is keen to make the online purchase of tickets available for all this year.

He confirmed that the sale will open on March 15 and the minimum price for the ticket will be Rs.1000 and the maximum cost will be Rs.12,000, providing with more conveniences.

Sindh Police launches precautionary regulations for PSL final

In the meantime, Sindh Police has also geared up precautionary measures that all commercial centers, hotels and offices on route of Karsaz Road will remain shut on the day of finals.

According to police, commercial building and shops will remain closed for 24 hours, starting from March 25 at 6:00 am, adding that the curb will be imposed on all buildings that report to Bahadurabad Police Station.

It is also announced that stringent measures will be taken on violations of the regulations.

KARACHI: All commercial activities will remain suspended on two main thoroughfares leading up to the National Stadium in Karachi where the final match of the third edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is scheduled to be held on March 25.

According to a notification issued by the Bahadurabad police station, under the jurisdiction of Gulshan East division, all wedding halls, hotels and offices on Sharae Faisal and Karsaz Road will remain closed for 24 hours – starting from 6am on March 25 to 6am on March 26.

As the preparations for final match are in full swing and keeping in view that foreign players will be travelling to the city, security agencies have finalised a draft for their arrival and stay.

The Airport Security Force (ASF) has been directed to secure internal and external premises of Jinnah International Airport – random searches, screening of luggage and patrolling the surrounding area are all part of the elaborate security arrangements. The security plan for the match day has also been outlined with heavy police patrolling at all guest routes and inside the stadium. Clearance will be required for all sensitive areas while cars will be removed from the surrounding area.

The players will be travelling in bulletproof buses throughout, while a signal-free corridor will be provided for safe transport.

Around four areas surrounding the airport, accommodation and stadium will be regulated during the PSL final. A security commander of SSP rank will also be supervising each area.

A communication desk has also been established at the stadium’s guest room to facilitate players.

With only days left in the expiry of the adjusted deadline for having a match-fit National Stadium ready to hold the Pakistan Super League final on March 25, the venue seems to be struggling to get where it was supposed to be ... or, more precisely, people designated with the task are struggling to take it where it was supposed to be.

The pace at which various workers and their supervisors were seen going about their job a week or so ago gave the impression that there was no deadline in their mind. Was the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) really interested in making it happen at Karachi? Was it focussing on the work at the National Stadium Karachi (NSK) or was it actually working on Plan B — shifting the match to Lahore, that is?

These were genuine questions to which Arshad Khan, the genial administrative head of the stadium, had genuine answers. The project, he said, itself represented Plan B for the matches scheduled to be played out in Lahore, and that left no chance for all concerned to be wishy-washy about it. “The stadium has to be match-fit by the deadline — March 15 — and it will be,” he said, and, to the man’s credit, his body language did support the words. So, hopefully, it would be, and Karachiites can look forward to the day with hope.

Having said that, there are a few ifs and buts about what defines ‘match-fit’ status. The ground and the playing surfaces are in supreme condition. The newly-laid grass is lush and with as many as 11 tracks now part of the playing square — in addition to more than 30 others that are now part of the premises — the actual game of cricket is under no threat at all.

The problem rests with the stands that will be housing the spectators. Certain portions would remain closed on the day as they are not even expected to be ready. The planners have all but given up on those areas. And, there is no roof worth its name over any of the stands. On the day of the match, the NSK would be a completely topless entity.

Apart from the minor hazards of spending time in the open with the ball flying all over the place (hopefully) and landing at random among the spectators, the larger issue relates to the image of a stadium that has no roof but still has all the vertical, horizontal and zig-zagging towers and girders of the iron frame. Right now, it has a haunted feel and touch about it.

The PSL final in Karachi is supposedly not as much about cricket as it is about communicating to the world an image of the city — and of the country — that might be different from the general perception prevailing abroad. Enter the stadium, and it might as well be some place in, say, war-torn Beirut. Though the management insists that the stadium will “actually look better than ever under floodlights because of, and not despite, the bare frame”, it is somewhat difficult to find any logic behind the claim. The problem is that the image beamed abroad might end up substantiating the stereotype of a troubled city rather than helping change it. And if that happens, it will be tragic for the reality is actually pretty different from the perception.

In the second phase of the project, the stadium will get back its top covering, but that part seems to have problems of its own. The PCB plans to have a roof covering of Teflon-coated Rexine which, in its own right, is wonderful stuff till you factor into the equation the presence of all sorts of birds that roam local skies. After all, it is artificial leather and, regardless of its thickness, strength and coating, apparently has no chance against sharp objects used against it on a regular basis.

PCB officials are all praise for the choice, but the moment you mention the bird factor — especially the big ones like eagles with their sharp beaks and claws — they look at you with the innocent surprise that might characterise the visage the Teflon might feature after it would be beaked by the eagle. “That never occurred in the discussions … we will surely look at it,” they say with a charm that would disarm the harshest critic, but will surely fail to charm the birds away.

As someone remarked during the conversation, the PCB approach more often than not is that of someone playing Ludo rather than chess. What is the difference? In chess, a player thinks before making the move. A Ludo player, on the other hand, rolls the dice and then, depending on the numbers, decides to do whatever he decides to do. Is it okay to expect a Ludo player to have the attitude of a chess player? No … provided they are doing it at their own expense. If someone is being handsomely paid to be a chess player and acting like a Ludo expert, it is clear that there is something wrong somewhere. Where? Think about it.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) has entered the business end with teams competing in reverse fixtures as four of the six teams vie to book their spots in the qualifier and the eliminators.

While Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings have forwarded strong cases for the top two spots, there is a non-cricketing issue that stares the PSL management right in their faces — the organisation of the landmark final in Karachi.

Apart from the entire hullabaloo created on the topic where claims are being made that the final might be switched to Lahore citing security or administrative concerns, one issue that is being ignored or swept under the carpet or not being considered seriously is the sales of the tickets for the final

Karachi, a city which hosts a population of nearly 20 million, will flood to the National Stadium in order to watch the match but most of the population might find it hard to reserve a seat courtesy a near to 35,000 capacity of the venue.

With ticket prices starting from Rs1,000 for general stands and ending on Rs12,000 for the VIP enclosures, the demand for the lowest price tickets would be high.

This raises concerns regarding the tickets which are already being promised on social media accounts, even before they are put for sale on the official ticket distributing sites.

As Karachi already faces the problem of limited entertainment avenues, the tickets of the final will sell like hot buns and have already been put on sale in black at raised prices.

The issue crossed my eyes when I saw nearly four to five Facebook friends claiming that they can arrange the tickets of the final and one can contact them privately for prices and availability.

Taken aback and obviously surprised, I contacted them to ask if they had the physical tickets with them, to which one replied that they will be provided to them for selling at raised prices. Also their providers promised free tickets to them if they met specific targets of sales.

This calls for urgent attention of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the PSL management since it is highly expected that people would want to flock to the stadium for the final and problems of duplication and forgery are ever high.

The final of the third edition of the PSL in Karachi promises to open doors of international cricket into the financial capital of Pakistan, but even a small matter like such should be avoided and taken care of in order to avoid any last-minute hiccups.

KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has approved Rs210 million for the security and beautification of Karachi between March 23 and March 26 for Pakistan Day celebrations and the Pakistan Super League final.

The CM directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to make the city neat and clean and beautify it with lighting and greenery. “[Karachi] should present an amazing and fabulous look,” Shah said.

The approved Rs210 million grant-in-aid includes Rs75 million for transport arrangements, rehabilitation of parking areas and security arrangements. These funds will be utilised by the South DIG and Karachi commissioner.

The remaining Rs135 million will be utilised by the KMC for civic works, generators, horticulture, illumination and beautification of routes and parking areas.

On March 25, international cricket will return to the city of lights as the final of the Pakistan Super League will be played at the National Stadium. Tickets for the final sold out within hours and renovation work at the stadium is almost complete.

Workers busy in renovation work at National Stadium as preparation ahead of the final match of Pakistan Super League (PSL), in Karachi - PPI

Work is underway to renovate the National Stadium ahead of the PSL final on March 25 - PPI

KARACHI: While reviewing the overall arrangements of the Pakistan Super League final match scheduled for March 25 in Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the administration to finalise all arrangements by March 22nd.

The director general of Rangers and the IG police informed the chief minister that foolproof security arrangements had been finalised and rehearsals of their assignments had also been carried out.

Presiding over a meeting on Friday at CM House, the chief minister directed the local government and administration to ensure setting up of food stalls for spectators.

“This must be done in consultation with Pakistan Cricket Board,” he said and directed the officials concerned to procure buses for shuttle service and finalise levelling and marking of parking lanes at the designated parking areas.

He rejected the proposal to ban the carrying of mobile phones inside the stadium saying “let the people enjoy — don’t bind them in one or the other obstruction”.

Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar on the occasion said that lifting of debris from the entire area of stadium and cleanliness work from all routes leading to the stadium was almost at the final stage.

Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro told the meeting participants some repair work inside the stadium was at the final stage. A presentation on illumination of the city was also given to the chief minister.

Wheat for Tharis
The chief minister on Friday approved distribution of free wheat among 287,000 poverty-stricken families of Thar and directed the chief secretary that the wheat distribution should start immediately and be completed by the end of April. Each family will be provided 100kg wheat.

The chief minister was informed that a drought-like situation persisted in Thar. The chief minister approved the distribution of free wheat.

Surprise visit
Later, the chief minister paid surprise visit without protocol to under-construction underpass and roads and directed the local government minister to expedite the works and complete them by the end of May.

The CM visited the Submarine underpass where one side of the underpass had been opened to traffic.

The chief minister also visited Sunset Boulevard-Gizri Boulevard flyover where most of the pillars of the flyover had been built. The CM was told that the scheme would be completed by May.

Mr Shah also drove through Saddar from Fawwara Chowk to the Zoological Gardens and inspected under-construction road. He also visited the newly reconstructed Jahangir Park in Saddar.

KARACHI: As many as 8,000 law enforcement authority personnel will be deployed for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final at the National Stadium on March 25, according to a security plan devised by the Sindh government.

Special Security Unit (SSU) personnel of the Sindh Police would be responsible for the security of players, travel routes and hotels; special cars will be used to take the players from airport to hotel and hotel to stadium, sources informed Geo News on Sunday.

SSU’s team is mandated to monitor security from special control rooms, to be set up near the team hotel. Eight parking spots have been allotted near the National Stadium. The VIPs will be allowed to park their cars at the stadium at China Ground near National Coaching Centre; car parking for the general public will be available at the football ground near Dalmia petrol pump, Hakeem Saeed playground at University Road, Sunday Bazaar ground near Baitul Mukkaram Mosque, KMC sports complex , China ground and KDA ground at Kashmir Road.

Special stickers will be issued for the VIPs for parking inside the National Stadium.

The crowd will be first searched at the parking space, and then will be taken to a designated point (Rana Liaquat Home Economics College, Expo Centre and Bahria College) in special shuttle buses. The security teams will carry out another inspection at the above-mentioned designated points. The spectators will have to walk from these points to the stadium.

Eatable items and ladies handbags will not be allowed inside the stadium.

Briefing on the security plan will be given to the concerned authorities on Monday.

Thanks for sharing. Have fond memories of this stadium from my teen age and college days. Still remember that famous victory against Australia in 1994 when Inzi scored the 60 odd runs for the final wicket with Mushy to take us home. Winning runs were scored when Healy missed the stumping chance against Inzi.

Large billboards and posters welcoming local and foreign cricket stars to Karachi have been put up.

Karachi is all set to host the final of the third edition of Pakistan Super League on Sunday, with authorities going all out to make the first match of the tournament to be held in the city a success.

The National Stadium has undergone a massive facelift ahead of the title-decider that is expected to generate a huge buzz across the metropolis which would be holding its first high-profile match involving foreign and top-tier Pakistan cricketers after almost a decade.

Large billboards and posters welcoming local and foreign cricket stars to Karachi have been put up on main thoroughfares and a stringent security plan has been drawn up to avoid any mishap.

On March 25, either Karachi Kings or Peshawar Zalmi will lock horns with Islamabad United, who have already qualified for the final.

A worker installs cable outside the National Cricket Stadium ahead of the PSL final, on Tuesday. — AFP

A Rangers official stands guard outside the National Cricket Stadium for the forthcoming PSL cricket final match in Karachi on Monday. — AFP

A view of the stands at the National Stadium which underwent a massive facelift ahead of the PSL final. — Photo by Ibrahim Farooqi

Thanks for sharing. Have fond memories of this stadium from my teen age and college days. Still remember that famous victory against Australia in 1994 when Inzi scored the 60 odd runs for the final wicket with Mushy to take us home. Winning runs were scored when Healy missed the stumping chance against Inzi.

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